Boxing
‘I Can See the Finish Line’ – Adesanya Targets 2027 Retirement Set For Joe Pyfer Clash in March
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has revealed he is targeting a potential retirement from mixed martial arts by 2027, admitting that the end of his storied career is now firmly in sight.
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The 36-year-old made the disclosure on his YouTube channel ahead of his next bout against Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle on March 28.
“I can see the finish line,” Adesanya said. “I’ve been seeing the finish line in the distance, but now it’s closer.”
Adesanya explained that he expects to have fewer than 10 fights left, outlining a plan to compete roughly twice a year, a schedule that would bring his UFC journey to a close within the next two years.
“2028 is going to be like, I don’t know yet. I can’t see past 2027,” he added.
The Nigerian-born New Zealand-based fighter heads into the clash with Pyfer on a three-fight losing streak and will be entering the Octagon as a betting underdog for the first time in his professional career.
Adesanya also revealed that he was close to returning to action in October 2025 at UFC Vancouver, where he was in advanced talks to face former ONE Championship double champion Reinier de Ridder. However, a gym injury forced him to withdraw from the bout.
“I was going to fight last year, but then I got injured in the gym, and then that opportunity got taken away,” he said.
While initially disappointed, Adesanya now believes the setback worked in his favour, allowing him additional time to recover fully from his knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov in Saudi Arabia in February 2024.
He admitted that the prospect of facing a grappler like De Ridder on short notice was appealing, as it presented a challenge he had not previously encountered during his UFC career. Brendan Allen eventually replaced Adesanya to face De Ridder.
Looking ahead,
Adesanya remains focused on his return against Pyfer and believes the extended recovery period has better prepared him for the contest.
The former champion has also ruled out a move to professional boxing after retirement, despite his reputation as one of the most accomplished strikers in MMA history, stating that he prefers having access to all aspects of his skill set.
Adesanya further criticised the current state of the UFC middleweight division, describing it as “bland” compared to the era when he dominated the weight class.
Holder of the second-longest winning streak in middleweight history behind Anderson Silva,
The Last Stylebender believes the division has lost much of the excitement it once had during his reign at the top.
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